Whisper (Whisper #1)(88)

“Cami,” I try to whisper, but it sounds like a strangled gurgle against the material in my mouth. She doesn’t so much as blink, and I know I’m lost to her.

I renew my struggle with all I have left in me. My body is pinned, but I wiggle my head as much as my neck brace will allow. It hurts — everything hurts — and it makes me so light-headed that I want to throw up, but I don’t stop. Not until Vanik curses at me and tightens the strap securing my neck. He takes it in so far that I can barely draw breath. I make a wheezing sound in the back of my throat, and black spots assail my vision again. I’m now unable to move, trapped and defenseless. I’m at his mercy, though I know I will receive none.

Kael, I need you! I cry out in my mind, certain he would know exactly how to get himself out of this mess.

And then I think of someone else who would know what to do. Ward, you promised to protect me! Where are you?

Protector and Destroyer, both so different, neither of whom I should trust, yet either of whom I would give every Spoken word in the world to have in the room with me right now. But I’m on my own.

With nothing else left, I try to take comfort in looking up at Cami, hoping to draw strength from the face of my friend, even if she’s not really here right now.

But then, just as I feel Vanik press the razor up against my scalp, I hear the door slide open and the slapping sound of footsteps moving toward us, fast.

Vanik’s head jerks up. “You’re not allowed to be —”

“You don’t want to hurt her.”

I instantly recognize Keeda’s voice, and at her hypnotic words, light flares, hitting Vanik in the chest.

His face blanks, and his hands drop from my head as he repeats the command in a dull monotone. “I don’t want to hurt her.”

“No, Kendall, don’t —” Manning growls, releasing my lower half and rushing toward Vanik.

But before the therapist can finish his own Spoken command, Keeda intervenes.

From my restricted position, I can’t see what happens next. All I know is that my rescuer doesn’t bother wasting energy on words. Instead, I hear sounds of a brief struggle, followed by a thump and a groan, and then Manning crumbles to the ground.

The tussle allows enough time for Vanik to fight himself free of Keeda’s trance, and he spits out, “What the —”

He doesn’t finish before I hear the clatter of metal and a crash when the tray falls to the ground, followed by a muttered oath from Vanik, another thump and then … silence.

Cami is shoved unceremoniously away, and Keeda steps into my line of vision, her face pale but her eyes determined. She swiftly unbuckles the restraints at my wrists, freeing first one, then the other. Moving to my neck, she makes short work of the brace while I tear the cloth from my mouth and inhale a large gulp of air.

“How —” I try to gasp out.

“Your ankles! Hurry!” Keeda orders.

I obediently bend forward to tug my left foot free, battling through the head spin and searing pain that come from my quick surge upward.

“Kael raised the alarm when you didn’t return to your room,” Keeda explains as she releases my right foot. “I told him it was a stupid idea to send you up here by yourself, but why listen to me?”

“You’re the Remnants’ informant?” I say, ignoring her sarcastic tone as my muddled brain puts the pieces together.

“One of them, and the best rescue option, since Manning’s ability doesn’t work on me.” She doesn’t waste time explaining why she’s immune — instead, she helps me swivel until my legs are over the side of the table. “Now we have to hurry and get out of here. I didn’t hit them hard — they won’t be down for long.”

I can see Manning and Vanik now, both slumped on the ground, unconscious. But I don’t look for long, because Keeda draws me off the table and onto my feet. Or, she tries to. Renewed pain darts along my back, and I’m so weak that I stagger into her, nearly toppling us both to the ground.

“For someone so small, you sure are heavy,” Keeda complains, trying to get a better grip on me since I’m unable to support myself. She wraps her arm around my lower back, pressing right against where Vanik operated on me, the agony causing lights to flash in my vision. I bite my cheek hard enough to draw blood, but I don’t ask her to let me go. I’ll put up with whatever pain it takes to escape this nightmare.

“I’m choosing to focus on remaining conscious rather than taking offense,” I slur. “Just get us out of here.”

I manage two steps before my thoughts catch up enough that I dig in my feet and say, “Wait — Cami, too. And the others.”

“No way,” Keeda says, tugging me forward. “My mission is to get you out. Only you.”

Even to my foggy mind, that is unacceptable. I refuse to leave anyone behind.

Sensing my resistance, Keeda says, “You can’t even walk on your own. We have no chance of helping them — not if we want to escape.”

I still open my mouth, but she cuts me off before I can say anything else. “They’re my friends, too.”

It’s the emotion in her voice that halts my argument, the realization of what she is sacrificing to get me away. I see the strain in her features, the sorrow in her eyes … so I nod my understanding — and my agreement.